Scotland and England would add quality, says Platini

THE presence of Scotland and England would enhance the finals of Euro 2012, according to Uefa president, Michel Platini.

The Frenchman says he is yet to be convinced of the argument to increase the size of the European Championships to 20 or 24 teams from 16 finalists, but says there are teams absent from this year's finals which would have undoubtedly added to the quality of the event.

Uefa, the governing body of European football, has been studying proposals to increase the size of the finals since early last year.

It will decide whether to expand the tournament by four or eight teams, or leave it as a 16-team event, at its executive committee meeting in Bordeaux on 25/26 September.

Platini reminded reporters that when he won the tournament playing for France in 1984 it was only half the size it is now.

"Remember, I won the Euros when there were only eight teams. It is not certain it was better with eight teams than 16 or that 16 is better than 24 or 32 or 54. I am not worried about the quality by increasing the number of teams. Countries like England, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Serbia, Ukraine and Bulgaria all have the ability to participate in a European Championship.

"Would they reduce the quality of the Euro? I believe they have the quality to take part, yes sincerely, there are teams that could be at the Euro and even enhance the quality of the competition."

The first five finals were staged as four-team events from 1960 until 1976, and the finals were increased to eight teams in 1980.

The first 16-team finals were in 1996, but pressure has come from some countries to increase the size of the finals again.

If the tournament was increased to 24 teams, it would mean nearly half of Uefa's 53 member associations would take part in the finals.



As for the doubts over co-hosts Poland and Ukraine being unable to stage the next tournament in 2012, Platini said: "We gave them four months (until September] to pull their socks up.

"The only thing which would make me decide not to go there would be if there were no stadia in the two capitals. Then there would be no tournament. We'll do everything to hold it there."